Appendix A

Twilight Imaging

Variation on a theme by Ira Progoff

This process borrows ideas from both Ira Progoff (1975) and St. Ignatius
and is a form of guided imagery. It involves relaxing until one can quieten
the mind and allow subconscious and unconscious material to surface. It
is a way of accessing the Higher Self as well as some of the archetypes.
Progoff says the psyche is like an underground river which knows our life
purpose and everything we need to know to actualize it. He uses various
inductions to lead people into this semi-conscious state that is somewhere
between sleeping and waking. It is rather like that brief period before
one drops into deep sleep at night. Unlike dreams, one is conscious and
can remember what occurs. However, the discursive, evaluative mind is silenced,
so material that is not usually accessible can come through.

Twilight imaging has four stages: induction, imaging or experiencing,
return, and recording what was experienced. You may use the following induction
or create your own. What is needed is some imagery that guides you underground
and/or into the underground river. The imaging itself varies according
to what you want to find out. Or it can be left open to whatever your psyche
wants to tell you. It goes without saying that one is polite and respectful
of aspects that are encountered in this phase. The return involves a gradual
re-entry into your usual bodymind. And the recording takes place without
speaking as soon as you are alert again, so nothing is forgotten. The material
may then be processed like a dream, the images may be drawn, or people
may want to share their experiences with others.

You may want to tape the following directions, so you can play them
to yourself during the exercise. If you do this, leave plenty of time between
each phase for your experience. Err on the side of too much time since
your sense of time will slow down as the imaging begins. You may need to
experiment to get this right.

Directions:

Lie down on the floor with your arms out to the side about half way
down to your knees and palms up. Cover yourself because you will cool off
as you relax. You may use an eye pillow if you have one. Take several deep
breaths and release tension on the outbreaths. If there is any pain or
cramping in your body, let it go as you breathe. Take a mental walk through
your body and systematically relax each part of it beginning with your
feet and not forgetting your face and scalp. Relax the mind. Bring your
attention within to the heart center and breathe into that.

Induction. "Now see yourself walking along a path through a sunny meadow.
It is springtime and the trees are leafing out. Flowers are beginning to
bloom and the sky is a clear blue with puffy floating clouds in it. On
your left is a gurgling stream with an occasional willow tree reaching
out over it to test the water. . . You are alone and enjoying the day.
. . Soon you see a small hill on your right. . . As you gaze at it, you
notice a small blue door in the side of it and you are curious to know
what it is. . . So you cross the meadow and walk toward it. . . When you
get close to it, you see that it has brass hinges and a large brass bar
that closes it. . . You try the bar, and it opens easily. The door swings
open and you step inside and look around you. . . You find yourself in
a large elegant hall with a dark red carpet and golden lamps on the wall
that illuminate the whole space. . . There seems to be no one around, so
you begin to walk down the hall. . . It feels comfortable and safe, somehow
familiar though you cannot remember being there before. . . There are no
doors, but soon you come to a staircase that is going down. . . The bannisters
are walnut with a soft, fine sheen, and the red carpet descends, so you
do too. The lamps continue with you, so there is plenty of light. . . You
walk slowly down about twenty stairs sinking slowly into the coolness of
underground. . . You are still comfortable and curious to see what is at
the bottom. . . When you get there, there is another door. This one is
heavy and made of the same walnut as the bannisters. It has golden hinges
and a golden latch that is intricately carved. . . You notice its pattern.
. . Trace it with your finger. . . Then you carefully open the door and,
as you pull it toward you, radiant sunshine streams in and warms your face.
. . As you step through the door, you find yourself in a formal garden
full of flowers in every color imaginable. There are trees throughout and
some have benches underneath them so one can sit to rest. . . A merry stream
of water rushes out of a rock ledge and falls happily into the small pond
beneath it. Ferns surround this pool and dip their fronds into the water.
. . Birds are singing. . . and they hop about in the garden sampling nectar
from the flowers. . . "

[Here you insert the action you have come to accomplish. For instance,
you may wish to meet your Higher Self in which case you would visualize
It approaching and talking to you, etc.

Allow plenty of time for this section. When you have allowed enough
time, continue the guidance:]

"Now it is nearly time to leave, so you complete what you are doing.
. . [leave a few minutes for this] Begin to come back into this time and
place. . . Allow your senses to perceive the present. . . Feel the air
on your face and hands. . . Hear the words of this guidance. . . Feel the
floor under your body supporting your weight. . . And now, draw your legs
up to your chest and turn over on your side. . . Take a minute to fix in
your memory what has just occurred. . . Then open your eyes and look around
the room. . . Supporting yourself with your arms, slowly sit up and come
into the present moment. . . "

Now write down your experience in as much detail as you can remember
along with your feelings during it, and now in the present as you look
back into the imaging.

You may make a drawing of the imagery, sculpt it, share it, etc. if
you wish. You may also treat the recorded material as if it were a dream
making associations to the imagery that was experienced to try to decode
its deeper meanings.